MLB Cardinals Payroll Drops From $101.8M In '08 To $93.2M For '09

Cards Will Not Sell 3 Million Tickets By Opening Day, First Time In New Busch Stadium's History

The MLB Cardinals have "obligated about" $93.2M to the projected 25-man roster for the April 6 season opener against the Pirates at Busch Stadium, a decrease from the $101.8M season-opening figure in '08, according to Joe Strauss of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Cardinals Chair Bill DeWitt Jr. "confirmed 'some slippage' in the team's attendance and sponsorship projections stemming from the nation's financial crisis that exploded shortly after last season." DeWitt: "If you add all that together, it's a challenging economic environment." Strauss notes including MLB payroll, the Cardinals' baseball operations "incurred more than $150[M] in expenses last season against overall revenue exceeding $200[M]." Sources indicated that the team "realized an operating profit of [$23-25M] ... before spending more than $17[M] to service debt on Busch Stadium." This year, for the "first time in new Busch Stadium's four-year history, the club will not sell 3 million tickets before opening day and is not assured an operating profit beyond its debt service on the stadium." DeWitt: "Right now we're projecting (a drop to) 3 million attendance. Also, sponsorship categories like automotive and financial are not as strong as they were before. We're seeing some slippage." DeWitt "refused to speculate on this season's profit-loss." DeWitt: "I think it's too early to say that." Strauss notes while the team has realized a 90% renewal rate among its season-ticket holders, it is "laboring to book all-inclusive and premium-seating areas typically reserved by corporations and civic groups" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/18).